Richfield, MN - The Academy of Holy Angels Stars return 20 players to the 2017 roster that started at some point on last year’s team.  That experience showed as they cruised to a 47-6 thumping over the Hill-Murray Pioneers at the Academy of Holy Angels on Friday night.  

After jumping out to a 20-0 first quarter lead, the Stars maintained control in using 12 different ball carries and a defense that played fast and physical.  Quarterback Joseph Heimbold led his team in rushing and gained 116 yards on 13 carries and 2 touchdowns.  The Stars utilized 12 different ball carriers that picked up 222 yards for the game.  

“It was a good start,” said Stars coach Jim Gunderson said. “The guys came out with great effort, great confidence, and you could see the experience at quarterback with Heimbold and his decision making.  The offensive line was challenged today to really step up and we were going to run behind them and they were going to open up the holes and I felt like they stepped up in game one.”

The game had a festive atmosphere to it with the natural expectations of a season opener in the air. The Archbishop of St. Paul Minneapolis Bernard Hebda was in attendance as he said Mass prior to the game for both teams and led the pregame prayer for the teams and fans in attendance. The Archbishop was in attendance to celebrate the launching of the CathloicSportsNetwork.org and accepted an invitation from Michael Kautzman, the Activities Director at the Academy of Holy Angels.

Beneath the pomp and circumstance that included several media outlets in attendance, Senior Keontay Shorter put his mark on the game. He contributed on both sides of the ball and special teams.  He had a pair of big-play touchdowns including a 25-yard touchdown pass from Heimbold and a punt 65 yard punt return for a touchdown. Shorter picked up where he left off last year when he led the district in punt returning last year.  

“I just kept climbing, kept running and running,” Shorter said of his return.  “I was out of breath and kept going.  As soon as I saw daylight I had to keep going.”

Shorter said the Stars have built from their experiences last year and that they have become close as a group yielding success on the field. “We are very tight,” Shorter said.  “Coach Gunderson, since the last game of last season, he always preached to be a team.  Tight, very tight brotherhood.  So, I feel really good about this next game.  We’ve been working very hard and been together as a team.”

Looking ahead to the Stars next game is the South St. Paul Packers. Gunderson was well aware of what his team has facing it.

“You are going into a hostile community not just an environment,” Gunderson said.  “The whole community sits down in that bowl and I remember when I was a player, that’s a very proud blue-collar community and Chad Sexhas done an amazing job there.  I can’t say it’s going to be hostile enough because their fans are going to be fired up, their team is hard nosed football team that’s lost three games in three years.  They have been in the state tournament for all of the three losses.  That tells you the program we are going into but if our goal is to get with and compete with that level then we have got to see that level and see how we do.  It’s going to be a great game that we can learn and grow from the goal is to win and give it our best effort.”

Effort and attitude, something the Stars coaching staff preaches and something their team has delivered thus far.